Charging device for concrete-mixers.



T. L. SMITH & E. W. MEYER.

CHARGING DEVICE FOR GONGRETE MIXBRS.

APPLICATION IILPD FEB. 1, 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

j mim ons M 7 1 ME ATTORNEY WITNES SES:

T.-L. SMITH & E. W. MEYER; CHARGING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l, 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911. 2 snnms-snnm 2.

WITNES ES;

fa W E ATTORNEY v UNITED STATES PATEisT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. SMITH AND EDWARD W. MEYER, F MILW'AUEEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGETOM TO THE T. L. SMITH 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 01? WIS- CONSIN.

CHARGING DEVICE FQB CONCRETE-MIXERS.

To all whom iii may concern.

Be'it known that we, THOMAS L. SMiTn and EDWARD WV. 'Mnrnn. citlzens of the Umted States, residing at Milwaukee, 1n the county or Milwaukee and State ofrvisconsln, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Charging Devices for Concrete-Mixers, of which the following is a specification;

Our invention relates to charging devices for concrete mixers; and the objects of our invention are, first to provide a device that will be capable of lifting the material to be mixed from any distance below the level on which the mixer stands; second, to provide .such a device that shall be readily portable with the mixer; third, to provide such a device that will dispense with all gates and latches and discharge into the mixer by tilting the car more or less, to spill the material rapidly or slowly, and fourth, to provide alight, durable, handy device requiring the minimum of power to operate. We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a view of the loading device in operative relation to the concrete mixer,

and Fig. 2, is a view looking at the device from the right hand side of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a View of one of the feet which helps to support the device, and Fig. 4-, is a fragmentary view showing the material being hoisted are the wheels of the truck on which both mixer and charging deviceare mounted. a 0 are the longitudinal members of the truck frame on which 't-l1e mixer is supported by the pedestals-d d. D is the mixing receptacle or dr} ml, which, in the type of machine shown, tilts to discharge around the center line of the trunnions dd.

We have shown our charging device ap- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 1, 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Serial No. a75,99.

plied-to a tilting mixer as it is most -difficult of application in this instance on account of the upward swingin movement of the feed end of the drum. bviously the charging device may be applied to any non-tilting mixer as for instance that shown in United States Patent 880,248, of February 25th, 1908.

The charging device is supported on two channel irons e 6, Fig. 2, extending transversely of the truck frame 0 c. The left hand end of the hoisting mechanism is supported on a shorter transverse channel 6, Attached to each channel 6, and extending vertically therefrom are two uprights, f and f, connected together by a transverse angle 7" at the top of f. They are also connected by an inclined angle 9. lhe two main frame pieces constructed as detailed above are joined together by the longitudinal anglesh near the truck frame and h'k" at the top of f, the two latter angles forming the support for the measuring water tank H. H is the discharge pipe from the tank H, which conducts the measured quantity of water for the batch to the feed end of the mixing drum.

It will be noted that the frame work of the charging device overhangs the truck frame, and therefore it is advisable to-support it independently of the truck while the device is in operation. Forthis purpose a foot is provided under each transverse channel 0, formed by riveting the angles K to each other and attaching them to the chan nels e, by means of the hinges 7c". The vanable space .etween the bottoms of the feet and the ground is to be filled by blocking and wedges. The abutting surfa-pes otthe hinges and angles prevent these feet swmging toward each other, beyond the vertical position, and a. bar is connects the feet together while the machine is in operative position. This bar has a notch in its lower edge near eachend, which notches are so placed that they will sli over .L bolt in each foot, and prevent the eet {swinging apart. When the machine is to be transported and bar 70 is slipped oil the bplts, the-feet are swung upward through 18Q in gpposite di rections and secured in their upper-positions by hooks on the channels f.

Inside and outside tracks, L L are riveted tothe frames. Lis formed wlth a cross section likethat ofa channel iron as shown at 2, Fig. 2, and on account of the sharp bend of 90 which is given it, from the vertop open except the decked over part m.

The side of the skip toward the mixer is formed on a slant which terminates in an n wardly inclined spout. This spout has a s ot,m,in its outer wall to accommodate the water pipe H when the ear is in its upper position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 1.

Thecar has an axle a attached rigidly to it under the spout m. This axle carries at each end a flanged roller a" which travels in the curved track L, the purpose of both tracks and rollers being to tilt the car from its horizontal position to its practicall vertical position, shown in dotted lines *ig. 1, during the upward movement of the car. During the downward movement of the car it is tilted back into the horizontal position, and these rollers a" and tracks L might well be termed the tilting tracks and rollers. Another axle b is riveted to the car on its inclincd side and near its bottom, carrying at I each end flanged guide rollers 12 which travel on the guide tracks L. A

The hoisting apparatus comprises a shaft N carrying drums or spools N, a friction clutch and sprocket wheel N" and a brake wheel N. The clutch lever 72. is connected by a link it" and a crank arm to a trip shaft a which is connected through a crank arm with the trip rod 0, and its tappet 0. The axle b carries a corresponding tappet b which engages and lifts the tappet 0 as the car reaches the upward limit of its travel, thus disengaging the friction clutch.

The re e ends are attached to the spools N and tiie rope leads from there over the outer sheaves p p under the lower sheaves p 79 over the upper sheavesp 79, and finally under the car through the pipe 79. The rope will automatically adjust itself through the pipep equalizing the length of the rope on each side of the car.

In operationthe car M is on the ground being loaded with a batchof stone, sand and cement, while the receding batch is being mixed in the drum As soon as the mixer is discharged and the ear M is loaded, the operator throws in the friction clutch N" by'means of the lever 71, and the car starts its upward .travcl. As the car is supported by the rope at the axle b and the pipe 39, and as the center of gravity of the load is outside of p the rollers a" will hug the right hand side of the tracks L, Fig. l. The car will remain horizontal as it goes upward until the rollers a" engage the curves of L.

. without occupying the street.

when the car will commence to tilt. By the time the front inclined side of the car has become horizontal, its spout is fully introduced to the feed opening of the mixer drum D, and to prevent the spout being withdrawn the tracks L curve from this point may discharge too rapidly in which event the operator may lower the car a little or the tappet 0 may be set lower. When the sand is wet it discharges with difiiculty if there is nostone in it-and its flow should not be interrupted after t starts.

Under some conditions and in some locations it is extremely advantageous to lift the material from a level several feet below the mixer In this event, the feet K shown in the drawingsare removed and similar feet, but of the requisite length, five, seven or ten feet long are attached in their place. For instance, in the erection of a large building on a crowded city thoroughfare, the mixer cairbe scton the main floor of the building, the gravel, stone, sand and cement, can be unloaded over chutes conveying the material to the basement where it is loaded needed in the car M, charged in the mixeron the floor'above and discharged thercfrom into the bucket of a concrete elevator, all of which can be done .It is thus seen that, over and above correct mechanical design by which different parts are adapted to the functions which they have to perform, the entire device is 'distinctly portable, the material may be elevated from a level belowthc mixer, and allgates and latches are avoided by tilting the car to discharge by pouring over its front edge, and the amount of this tilting and consequent rapidity of discharge is under control of the op(.* i.'ator.

[What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by I ietters Patent is H 1. A charging device for a concrete mixer consisting of a loading car having an open 1 discharge spout adapted to enter the feed opening of the mixcr'drum, guide tracks engaging said our and hoisting means for operating said car, said guide tracks so constructed as to introduce the discharge spout of the ear to the feed opening of the mixer and ,to tilt the car for discharge by the upward movement given by the hoist.

2. A charging device for concrete mixers comprising a charging car having a confeed opening of the mixer drum, and tilt the car around its dischargespout by the upward movement given by the hoist.

3. In a charging device for concrete mix-' ers, a charging car having an open discharge spout, guide projections on the car in' di' f-' ferent horizontal planes, tracks extendin between the projections, the inner trac curved toward the horizontal direction" at the proper height to introduce the dischar e spent to the feed opening of the mixer, t, e outer track being curved in a .circle around the inner guide projection, and hoisting means to operate the car. 7

4. A charging device for concrete mixers comprising a loading ca'r having an 0 en 7 discharge spout adapted to enter the eed, opening of the mixer drum, guide rollers under the spoutat aboutdrh'e top ofthe oar, other guide rollers in from of and at about the bottom-Qt the car, his tracks on each side of the car each trac extending between a pair of rollers, the inner and outer edges of the tracks being curved at their upper ends in such a minner that the discharge spout is introduced to the feed opening of the mixer and the car is tilted -to discharge by the upward movement of the can;

5. A charging'device for. concrete mixers comprising a charging car having inner guide rollers near the discharge lip of the spout, and outer guide rollers near the bottom'of the car," straight guide tracks for said rollers extending substantially tothe ground level or below the same, the upper part of.the spout roller track curved into the horizontal plane in such manner that the spout rollers in following this track introduce the discharge lip of the spout to the feed opening of the mixer, the up er part oi the outer guide track being curve around the spout roller as a center, and hoisting means engaging the car to elevate andtilt the same.

6. A charging device for concrete mixers comprising main sills extending transversely of the truck frame, guide tracks extending upward from said sills, removable sections of track attached to and extending down ward from said sills, a loading car between and having projections engaging said guide tracks, and hoisting mechanism engaging said car. I

7. in a charging device for a concrete mixer, a charging car having an open discharge spout elliptical in cross section and adapted to enter the feed opening of themixer drum, guide projections on the car in different horizontal planes, tracks extendof the track curved toward the-horizontal direction at the height at which it is de-' sired to discharge the car,

whereby the spout is introduced horizontall to the feed open a ing of the mixer drum -"w ile the outer guide projections continue their upward move ment to tilt the car, and hoisting means to operate the car. i

i :8. In an elevating and charging device no e for a concrete mixer; 'a car or t with an open discharge spout adapted to enter the feed opening of themixerdrum, upper and lower guides on said car, substantla 1y Vertical tracks extending outside of the upper guides and inside of. the lower guides, hoisting means to operate the car, the track ,for the inner guides being curved inward ,at the height of the feed opening of the drum, whereby the discharge spout of the' car is moved into the feed opening while the body of the'car and the outer guides continue their upward movement. I

9. A. charging device for concrete mixers consisting'of a loading car hoisting means for operating said car, guide projections on the spout side-of'said car and guide tracks extending between said projections, the lower guide projection being between the center;

of gravity of the car and the guide track.

10. In a charging device for concrete mixers, a charging hopper or car, hoisting means for operating said hopper, a hoisting rope connected at its ends to the hoisting means, the intermediate part-of the rope passing loosely through guiding means on said hope per, whereby the parts of the rope on 0 posite sides of the car are automatical y equalized in length.

11. A charging device for concrete mixers comprising a charging hopper or ear, guide rails and'hoisting means for said car, said car having its side that is. toward the mixer gradually merged into a spout 0felliptical form in cross section adapted to enter the feed opening of the mixer drum and be tilted therein, the spout and merg- 3 ing side of the car being inclined to the bottom of said car, guiding means for the car carried by the spout and inclined side of the car and engaging the guide rails.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our si natures in the presence of two subscri ing Witnesses.

THOMAS L. SMITIL EDWARD W. MEYER. Witnesses:

E. O. MANKTELOW, H. H. GnunAorr. 

